The Chitinous Ensemble - Dance (1971) Link

"The Chitinous Ensemble - Dance" is a rare gem of early 1970s British jazz-fusion, released in 1971 on the Deram Records label. This project was the brainchild of composer and bassist , who is perhaps most famous for his legendary string arrangements for Elton John and David Bowie. Musical Composition & Style

: Long before "fusion" became a commercial buzzword, this record was experimenting with electric instruments in a symphonic context. It shares a DNA with the experimental side of Ian Carr’s Nucleus or the more abstract moments of Soft Machine. Key Tracks The Chitinous Ensemble - Dance (1971)

: A moody, atmospheric introduction that sets a cinematic tone, showcasing Buckmaster's skill with strings and woodwinds. "The Chitinous Ensemble - Dance" is a rare

While it didn't achieve commercial success at the time, "The Chitinous Ensemble - Dance" has become a highly sought-after "holy grail" for collectors of British Jazz and rare Deram pressings. It serves as a testament to the era's boundary-pushing spirit, where the lines between classical conservatory training and jazz-club experimentation were completely blurred. It shares a DNA with the experimental side

The album is a sophisticated blend of . Buckmaster utilized a unique "ensemble" approach, bringing together top-tier session musicians and orchestral players to create a sound that was both rigid in its classical structure and loose in its jazz improvisation.